[cma-l] Community Radio Order - Commons debate 12/01/10 4:30pm

[yvonne.williams at gatewayfm.com]

Hi
Just a quick observation on the proceedings in committee in the HoC. Mention 
was made of the £3.5 million pounds 'provided to Community Radio' by various 
government (and local government) departments. Would it not have been a 
rather more accurate view of the matter to acknowledge that some significant 
percentage of that figure comprises project tied monies and payments for 
activities not directly concerned with Community Radio such as provision of 
courses on various subjects?

Indeed, the funding structure that requires CR to operate on a mixed funding 
basis with no more than 50% from any single source, almost guarantees that 
some is liable to be derived from sources associated with government, 
central or local. However, these are seldom hand outs: they are mpre often 
earnings arising from providing specific, measurable and quantifiable 
services to give the communities served the benefits of those services at 
remarkably low cost, for the CR sector is predominantly volunteer driven.

It was suggested that small commercial stations are employers and that 
should they suffer at the hands of community stations, people are put out of 
work and onto the list of unemployed. It should be acknowledged that those 
same small commercial stations are disposable assets providing profits for 
their owners and that in difficult economic times they are liable to cut 
their costs in order to protect the bottom line.  CR stations rely on 
volunteers and provide valuable community service in helping engage with 
unemployed people in order to help them contribute their skills for the 
benefit of others and to learn new skills to enhance their future employment 
prospects.
Yvonne Williams
Gateway FM